
In the 2026 NFL Draft, QB Shedeur Sanders unexpectedly fell to the fifth round, being selected 144th overall by the Cleveland Browns. His father, Deion Sanders, may have influenced this surprising drop due to his strong opinions on team preferences.
Just one year ago, the 2026 NFL Draft brought a huge surprise.
Huge is no exaggeration, as QB Shedeur Sanders, projected by most, yes most, analysts to be a first-round draft selection, fell. Oh, he didn't merely fall into the early second round; he plunged, he nose dived, out of the second round, out of the third round all the way to the fifth round and the 144th overall selection by the Cleveland Browns.
In Shedeur's case, his father Deion might have not only been a reason, but the major reason for the huge fall in the draft. Deion, never cautious to think he might not actually understand a situation best, confidently said on camera, "I'm not going to let my son get down in no foolishness. It's not like who I would like for him to play for. It's a couple of teams I won't allow him to play for. This is my profession. I know what is behind the curtain." The irony is not only that Sheduer fell some 140 spots, but he ended up in Cleveland. Apparently, Deion possessed much less power than he imagined.
There have been these draft slides before, as Sanders is by no means unique in falling on draft day. When this occurs, it can sometimes be a steal for the team, as they choose the falling player. You can then often get a player very motivated to prove NFL teams erred, such as Tom Brady, or you can get a player who truly is never going to live up to their early draft projections. Bottom line? You never know who you're getting.
There have been others as well who fell for various reasons, such as the Commanders' OT Laremy Tunsil, WR Randy Moss, and WR DK Metcalf. Moss had been arrested and failed a drug test, which cost him a scholarship from Notre Dame and dismissal from Florida State. Tunsil was one of the most shocking of falls, when only minutes prior to the beginning of the 2016 NFL Draft, a photo of Tunsil was released showing him smoking marijuana through a gas mask. In 2007, Brady Quinn sat on stage until selected by the Browns at 22nd overall.
In last year's draft, Jacory Croskey Merritt fell all the way to the seventh round before Washington GM Adam Peters scooped him up at 245th overall. Why? Because he had only played one game in his senior season, he was declared ineligible. Had he played more of the season, JCM would have been more visible and most likely been drafted a couple of rounds earlier. While Croskey-Merritt's fall wasn't shocking, it illustrates the NFL draft's unpredictability.
So, keep in mind there are always reasons why some players fall in the draft.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Which player will have a surprising fall?
Shedeur Sanders fell to the fifth round due to a combination of factors, including his father's strong opinions about team preferences, which may have influenced NFL teams' decisions.
Before the draft, Shedeur Sanders was projected by most analysts to be a first-round selection.
Shedeur Sanders was selected by the Cleveland Browns with the 144th overall pick in the fifth round.
A draft slide can motivate a player to prove teams wrong, potentially leading to a successful career, or it may indicate that the player will not meet early expectations.

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